For a chosen few however — groups mostly consisting of long-time customers using Windows XP for medical, business and offices purposes — the end of support meant potentially catastrophic problems for long-time users.

The 4 Main Risks of Using Windows XP

If you consider using Windows XP daily, you should know a few things. The end of official support from Microsoft brought a slew of potential difficulties concerning the safety and the usability of Windows XP.

1. Lack of Updated Software

As of February 2016, approximately 7% of worldwide Desktop and Tablet operating systems represent Windows XP. These statistics change drastically from country to country, where as much as 22% of PCs in China still run Windows XP (down from 50% as of January 2014), while 3% of PCs run Windows XP in North America.

Because of the low availability of Windows XP computers, one serious risk often neglected is software compatibility issues wherein companies cease to produce updates for Windows XP software.

The attackers that steal the information from computer systems sometimes choose to trade or sell that stolen information to other criminals to use for identity theft and bank fraud schemes.

3. An Infected Computer Spoils the Bunch

Simple tasks like surfing the Web or checking emails are golden opportunities for computer hackers. The risks are multiplied, however, when multiple computers are connected to a network (as is the case with school computer labs). This is especially true if all computers are also running Windows XP; a wrong action taken by a single user may lead to the ruin of an important group resource.

Malicious software downloaded onto your computer can lead to serious security and performance issues. Malware is software downloaded through popup advertisements or illicit Websites. With the growing concern of companies — primarily those which create Internet browser updates — halting updates to their software, effective popup blockers and spam filters are also becoming harder to find for Windows XP users.

Oftentimes, malware will sneak its way onto your computer through seedy software offering a service or disreputable Websites hosting bad software. Any software downloaded onto a Windows XP computer that is not researched beforehand may lead to critical functionality and data loss.

Harmful malware need not be downloaded off of the Internet to infect a computer; malicious software can lurk in a flash drive until coming in contact with a PC. This is particularly problematic for a network of Windows XP computers used daily by multiple people.

4. Tied to the Times

Windows XP was not built for the modern age of fast-paced download speed and large-scale Internet access making Microsoft patches a necessity. A lack of official support means a lack of protection in an ever changing cyber world.

8 Tips to Lock Down Windows XP

Although these tips cannot guarantee the safety one would receive from official patch support, they will provide the safest Windows XP experience you can receive. Use these tips as guiding points to give your static Windows XP dynamic protection.

1. Upgrade to Windows XP Service Pack 3

Service packs are like security and performance boosting packets which Windows released for free. Windows XP Service Pack 3 is the latest service pack for Windows XP, released as a Windows Update on May 6, 2008.

The jump from Service Pack 1 or 2 to Service Pack 3 will require much more RAM than the original 64 MB minimum required for Windows XP; 512 MB – 1 GB of RAM is advised, along with 5+ GB disk space. You can download Service Pack 3 under Start > Control Panel > Windows Update. The official disk image of Windows XP Service Pack 3 can no longer be downloaded through Microsoft’s Website.

2. Tweak the Windows XP Registry to Continue Receiving Updates

One way to continue receiving updates for Windows XP is to have recognized as another OS! This simple registry tweak could cause the Windows Update program to recognize your Windows XP as Windows Embedded Industry, otherwise known as Windows Embedded POSReady. Window EI is set to receive official updates until 2019. Follow these simple steps to utilize the tweak:

Save the text file as XP.reg rather than using the default .txt extension.

Double-click on your new text file to make the change to your registry.

DISCLAIMER: Microsoft has since released a press statement revealing the possible consequences for using this trick.

The security updates that could be installed are intended for Windows Embedded and Windows Server 2003 customers and do not fully protect Windows XP customers. Windows XP customers also run a significant risk of functionality issues with their machines if they install these updates, as they are not tested against Windows XP.

Many users – including me – who won’t be able to upgrade their old machines to a newer OS would like to easily install all Windows updates in one convenient package. For this reason I started working on a Service Pack 4 package in September 2013.

The final installment Version 3.1a is available for download online. Harkaz also conveniently explains the content of this service pack in his post.

Windows XP Unofficial SP4 ENU is a cumulative update rollup for Windows XP (x86) English. It can be applied to a live Windows XP system which has SP1, at minimum, installed or it can be slipstreamed (integrated) in any Windows XP installation media.

CAUTION: Unofficial updates and service packs to your OS may lead to compatibility and performance issues; use at your own risk.

4. Research Compatible Software

Some software companies have agreed to provide continual support for Windows XP, while others have halted the production of security and feature updates. For example, most companies which create Internet browsers are not one size fits all in terms of security protection for Windows XP. Firefox is providing limited support for Service Pack 1 and full support for Service Pack 2/3, but recommends Service Pack 3 for full service functionality.

Although Google Chrome has sought to help their Windows XP users with updates after the extended support deadline, they have announced the end of security updates and support April 2016. Opera will continue to provide security support for their Windows XP browser, but has halted compatibility for Windows XP after Opera 36. Make sure the software downloaded onto your computer is continually up to date.

Delete absolutely all outdated software on your computer; attackers are smarter than using only inappropriate Websites to harm users. Outdated software, such as Office 2003 and early versions of Outlook, should be deleted immediately and replaced with a newer, recently updated software providing a similar service.

Some software may not be compatible with Windows XP, while others may not receive continual updates, which puts the software at risk of being compromised and exploited.

Being connected to the Internet may be call for concern on Windows XP, so using a third-party firewall to keep track of network activity will add an extra layer of protection to your computer.

7. Scan Every Memory Peripheral

Scan any and all peripherals that carry data, including flash drives and CDs. Even if files are not transferred from one computer to the other, hidden files may find their way onto your computer through connection alone.

Oftentimes, your antivirus software will automatically attempt to clean your thumb drives; as an extra measure, a simple right click should show you a Scan option so you can scan your thumb drive. Avira Free Antivirus handles this functionality and still provides support for Windows XP SP3 users.

HTTPS Everywhere, for example, converts HTTP Websites (Websites supporting the Hypertext Transfer Protocol) to the newer and more secure HTTPS.

The Real Skinny on Windows XP

Windows is an ever-changing, continually developing family of operating systems dedicated to user satisfaction and security. I own several computer running Windows XP, which provide various tasks around the house, none of which have ever given me issues. Few, however, would advocate the everyday use of a computer running Windows XP.

No matter; if you still love Windows XP and are careful with your computer, it should keep you happy for years to come.

How come you’re still using Windows XP? And how do you keep your PC protected?

The classic Windows look, colors, boxes, menu structure is very easy on my eyes. I have a Windows 7 Pro set up for regular use and a XP machine, which is not on the Internet, for my Midi and Synth programs that can not run on newer machines.

Its amazing that some of the best software for music production was written in the Windows for Workgroups days. The programs are stable, use little resources and for the most part do everything I need to have a virtual Moog and run my favorite music notation editor, MidiSoft Sessions version 4.

ON my Win 7 machine, I am still using Office 2003 professional, and Thunderbird for email and produce high resultion audio with Adobe Audition 1.5 and DVD-Audio authoring tools. All of this works fine and the Office menu is a real menu and not some flimsy ribbon!

Someday I'll move over to Linux platform, when my two PC's pop their last capacitors!

I agree! 8.1 and 10 missed the mark of heavy usage usability.
Examples of terrible usability:
-Try saving a file from Office 2016 - you have to click alot just to get a file browser selector.
-Want to uninstall a program - in windows 10 you have to actually type to get to the programs and features screen - as the apps and features does not list all installed software.
-Want to turn on your low powered computer - with windows 10 dont expect it to start fast.
-Want to change to static IP address youll have to click lots or type lots.
-Windows 10 makes you act like its a commandline - yet has all the slowness of a heavy GUI.
-Check out the many scheduled tasks that ship with Windows - sending information home

Also note that while microsoft has launched a large campaing about the deadly nature of unsupported XP - no specifics were given. Until Wanna cry ransom. Fear and missinformation about hackers is a marketing tool and anti piracy technique but has gone way too far - people actually believe this stuff even inside the IT industry - are we in an age of skeptism or not. The wanna cry ransom - microsoft comes out saying "it did not target windows 10 machines" haha - what do you think really happened here...im not sure but I kinda entertain the idea that some dogey things went down... ) from wiki ipedia i read this:

EternalBlue exploits a vulnerability in Microsoft's implementation of the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol.[38] This Windows vulnerability was not a zero-day flaw, but one for which Microsoft had released a "critical" advisory, along with a security patch to fix the vulnerability two months before, on 14 March 2017.[39] The patch was to the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol used by Windows,[40][41] and fixed several versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system, including Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10, as well as server and embedded versions such as Windows Server 2008 onwards and Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 respectively, but not the older unsupported Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, and Windows 8 (unsupported because Windows 8.1 is classified as a mandatory service pack upgrade).[39] The day after the WannaCry outbreak Microsoft released updates for these too.

But SYS - what about if you want to use your old gameport to interface with your MIDI synth ? Windows 7 dropped that ability. And why should I have to change my OS to something that can't run my apps I purchased to use that interface because Linux can't run native Windows (OK there is WINE, etc. but why?) ?

I have Win7 on my main machine, I have Win10 on my laptop - but neither can run the gameport MIDI interface to my synth - because it is considered old tech ! Hell my Win7 machine doesn't even have PS/2 ports on it either ! For the old tech - I need XP.

B - Before Visiting Shady Websites, Configure Your AV To Warn You And Block Any Programs From Running From The Download And / Or Temp Folders,
- If You Can Not Install Software, Unblock The Feature And After The Installation, Block It Again,

C - Buy Customized Motherboards ( MBs ) With Lots Of PCIEXPRESS16 ( P16 ) Slots And You Can Continue To Use XP With The Most Modern Hardware For Many Many Many Years,
- Even If The New ( MBs ) Do Not Have Drivers For XP, Lots Of ( P16 ) Cards Do, And Are Still Available, Both Old And New.

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In The SUMMER Of 2009, M$ Issued Some Crappy Update(s) That Turned My Machine Into A Snail - Bar A Couple, I UnInstalled All M$ Updates I Could Live Without, And Have Not Installed Any Newer Ones Since, Whatsoever - Almost 7 Years And Counting.

This is just a TERRIBLE idea. You obviously have no clue about software development or system administration.

Take advice from a long time developer. Migrate away from Windows XP asap. If you want to stick to Windows upgrade to Windows 10 or switch to a Linux based operating system like Ubuntu to stay up to date.

Advising people to stick with an unmaintained, outdated Operating System while being connected to the Internet is downright dangerous. And your "secure" browser will not save you if your entire OS networking stack is compromised. Seriously.

Again, " Few...would advocate the everyday use of a computer running Windows XP.". Advocating the use of Windows XP is a dangerous proposition; as shown in the graph, I feel more and more people are understanding the risk and switching. Eli the Computer Guy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fNbAi1SAuc) , a 'tech guru' I've long subscribed to, along with a fair amount of sysadmins would also agree with you.

That being said, a fair amount of schools, hospitals and libraries are still using Windows XP and consider these (albeit aged) computers a necessary resource. Why not provide these select few an educational resource to prevent further harm.

Christian is a recent addition to the MakeUseOf community and an avid reader of everything from dense literature to Calvin and Hobbes comic strips. His passion for technology is only matched by his want and willingness to help; if you have any questions concerning (mostly) anything, feel free to email…